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Employee Benefit Plans - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Share-based compensation allocation expense $ 26,000,000us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense $ 40,500,000us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense $ 45,500,000us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense  
Incremental share-based compensation resulting from this modification 0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardPlanModificationIncrementalCompensationCost      
Stock awards, expiry date Dec. 20, 2016      
Outstanding options, vested 0us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedNumberOfShares      
Maximum number of shares authorised 35,309,563us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAuthorized      
Maximum number of shares award 3,530,956us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardMaximumNumberOfSharesPerEmployee      
Percentage of maximum number of share options, unexercised 1.08%gfi_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardPercentageOfOutstandingStockOptions      
Compensation cost related to awards not yet recognized under all four schemes 14,300,000us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized      
Compensation cost related to awards not yet recognized under all four schemes, period of recognition 2 years      
Continuing operations        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Cost of providing retirement benefits for defined contribution plans 35,400,000us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized
/ us-gaap_StatementOperatingActivitiesSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_SegmentContinuingOperationsMember
32,300,000us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized
/ us-gaap_StatementOperatingActivitiesSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_SegmentContinuingOperationsMember
30,000,000us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized
/ us-gaap_StatementOperatingActivitiesSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_SegmentContinuingOperationsMember
 
Share-based compensation allocation expense 26,000,000us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementOperatingActivitiesSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_SegmentContinuingOperationsMember
40,500,000us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementOperatingActivitiesSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_SegmentContinuingOperationsMember
45,500,000us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementOperatingActivitiesSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_SegmentContinuingOperationsMember
 
Discontinued operations        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Cost of providing retirement benefits for defined contribution plans 0us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized
/ us-gaap_StatementOperatingActivitiesSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_SegmentDiscontinuedOperationsMember
0us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized
/ us-gaap_StatementOperatingActivitiesSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_SegmentDiscontinuedOperationsMember
62,800,000us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized
/ us-gaap_StatementOperatingActivitiesSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_SegmentDiscontinuedOperationsMember
 
Share-based compensation allocation expense 0us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementOperatingActivitiesSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_SegmentDiscontinuedOperationsMember
4,600,000us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementOperatingActivitiesSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_SegmentDiscontinuedOperationsMember
32,200,000us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementOperatingActivitiesSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_SegmentDiscontinuedOperationsMember
 
Performance Shares        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Share-based compensation allocation expense 0us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
     
Share vesting period 3 years      
Valuation method The Group uses the Monte-Carlo Simulation to value the Performance Shares.      
Bonus Shares        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Valuation method A future trading model is used to estimate the loss in value to the holders of Bonus Shares due to trading restrictions.      
Stock Appreciation Rights        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Incremental share-based compensation resulting from this modification   0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardPlanModificationIncrementalCompensationCost
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_StockAppreciationRightsSARSMember
0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardPlanModificationIncrementalCompensationCost
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_StockAppreciationRightsSARSMember
 
Stock awards, expiry date Dec. 01, 2017      
Restricted Stock        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Share vesting period 3 years      
The Gold Fields Limited 2012 Share Plan | Performance Shares        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Internal target performance percentage 85.00%gfi_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardTargetPercentage
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= gfi_GoldFieldsLimitedTwoThousandAndTwelveSharePlanMember
     
Performance shares settlement increased percentage 200.00%gfi_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardSharesSettledAsPercentageOfOutstandingAmount
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= gfi_GoldFieldsLimitedTwoThousandAndTwelveSharePlanMember
     
The Gold Fields Limited 2012 Share Plan | Performance Shares | Continuing operations        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Share-based compensation allocation expense 12,000,000us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= gfi_GoldFieldsLimitedTwoThousandAndTwelveSharePlanMember
/ us-gaap_StatementOperatingActivitiesSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_SegmentContinuingOperationsMember
18,800,000us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= gfi_GoldFieldsLimitedTwoThousandAndTwelveSharePlanMember
/ us-gaap_StatementOperatingActivitiesSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_SegmentContinuingOperationsMember
13,100,000us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= gfi_GoldFieldsLimitedTwoThousandAndTwelveSharePlanMember
/ us-gaap_StatementOperatingActivitiesSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_SegmentContinuingOperationsMember
 
The Gold Fields Limited 2012 Share Plan | Performance Shares | Discontinued operations        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Share-based compensation allocation expense   1,100,000us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= gfi_GoldFieldsLimitedTwoThousandAndTwelveSharePlanMember
/ us-gaap_StatementOperatingActivitiesSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_SegmentDiscontinuedOperationsMember
7,600,000us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= gfi_GoldFieldsLimitedTwoThousandAndTwelveSharePlanMember
/ us-gaap_StatementOperatingActivitiesSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_SegmentDiscontinuedOperationsMember
 
The Gold Fields Limited 2012 Share Plan | Bonus Shares        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Number of equal tranches 2gfi_NumberOfEqualTranches
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= gfi_BonusShareMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= gfi_GoldFieldsLimitedTwoThousandAndTwelveSharePlanMember
     
The Gold Fields Limited 2012 Share Plan | Bonus Shares | Continuing operations        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Share-based compensation allocation expense 12,300,000us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= gfi_BonusShareMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= gfi_GoldFieldsLimitedTwoThousandAndTwelveSharePlanMember
/ us-gaap_StatementOperatingActivitiesSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_SegmentContinuingOperationsMember
11,900,000us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= gfi_BonusShareMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= gfi_GoldFieldsLimitedTwoThousandAndTwelveSharePlanMember
/ us-gaap_StatementOperatingActivitiesSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_SegmentContinuingOperationsMember
8,700,000us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= gfi_BonusShareMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= gfi_GoldFieldsLimitedTwoThousandAndTwelveSharePlanMember
/ us-gaap_StatementOperatingActivitiesSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_SegmentContinuingOperationsMember
 
The Gold Fields Limited 2012 Share Plan | Bonus Shares | Discontinued operations        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Share-based compensation allocation expense   $ 800,000us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= gfi_BonusShareMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= gfi_GoldFieldsLimitedTwoThousandAndTwelveSharePlanMember
/ us-gaap_StatementOperatingActivitiesSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_SegmentDiscontinuedOperationsMember
$ 5,000,000us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= gfi_BonusShareMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= gfi_GoldFieldsLimitedTwoThousandAndTwelveSharePlanMember
/ us-gaap_StatementOperatingActivitiesSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_SegmentDiscontinuedOperationsMember
 
The Gold Fields Limited 2012 Share Plan | Bonus Shares | Minimum        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Bonus share settlement period 9 months      
The Gold Fields Limited 2012 Share Plan | Bonus Shares | Maximum        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Bonus share settlement period 18 months      
2005 Share Plan        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Options outstanding, average exercise price $ 7.89us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= gfi_StockIncentivePlanTwentyZeroFiveMember
$ 8.89us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= gfi_StockIncentivePlanTwentyZeroFiveMember
$ 12.53us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= gfi_StockIncentivePlanTwentyZeroFiveMember
$ 13.27us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= gfi_StockIncentivePlanTwentyZeroFiveMember
2005 Share Plan | Stock Appreciation Rights        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Share vesting period 3 years      
Outstanding options, vested 1,818,261us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedNumberOfShares
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_StockAppreciationRightsSARSMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= gfi_StockIncentivePlanTwentyZeroFiveMember
2,095,543us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedNumberOfShares
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_StockAppreciationRightsSARSMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= gfi_StockIncentivePlanTwentyZeroFiveMember
1,605,403us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedNumberOfShares
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_StockAppreciationRightsSARSMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= gfi_StockIncentivePlanTwentyZeroFiveMember
 
Options exercisable 0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_StockAppreciationRightsSARSMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= gfi_StockIncentivePlanTwentyZeroFiveMember
     
Options outstanding, average exercise price $ 7.89us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_StockAppreciationRightsSARSMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= gfi_StockIncentivePlanTwentyZeroFiveMember
$ 8.89us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_StockAppreciationRightsSARSMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= gfi_StockIncentivePlanTwentyZeroFiveMember
   
Shares vested average instrument price $ 7.89us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_StockAppreciationRightsSARSMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= gfi_StockIncentivePlanTwentyZeroFiveMember
$ 8.31us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_StockAppreciationRightsSARSMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= gfi_StockIncentivePlanTwentyZeroFiveMember
$ 12.84us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_StockAppreciationRightsSARSMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= gfi_StockIncentivePlanTwentyZeroFiveMember
 
2005 Share Plan | Stock Appreciation Rights | Maximum        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Expiration period from grant date 6 years      
2005 Share Plan | Restricted Stock        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Share vesting period 3 years